UPU: we haven’t endorsed APC, LP candidate for 2015

THE leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has said the union has not endorsed either the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or his Labour Party (LP) counterpart for giving their ticket to Urhobo candidates in Delta State.

The union also said the choice of the governorship candidate to represent the Urhobo would not be by party but by popularity.

But it said the Urhobo would vote against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections.

UPU’s President General Joe Omene spoke when LP governorship candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, visit him at his country home at Mosogar, Ethiope East Local Government Area.

Omene said the union had not taken a position on who to support between Chief O’tega Emerhor of the APC Ogboru of the LP.

He said: “UPU has not endorsed any candidate of any of the two political parties that have given us the governorship ticket. APC has given its ticket to Urhobo, so also has the LP.

“UPU will support only a popular candidate, not a political party. It is only lazy politicians that go about spreading the rumour of endorsement. We will work with only a popular candidate that the masses want, not on the basis of endorsement.”

The union accused former Delta State Governor James Ibori, his daughter, who just won a primary to represent Ethiope West Local Government Area for the House of Assembly and other loyalists of the former governor as the masterminds of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s victory, against Urhobo’s choice, Chief David Edevbie.

The union alleged that the former governor was directing the state’s affairs through phone calls while his daughter was acting on his directive that Okowa should be PDP’s flag bearer.

Omene said those who sold out at the primary would be sanctioned.

“We are yet to decide what sanction the union will give to those who voted against the choice of Urhobo (Edevbie) at an appropriate time,” he added.